Long-term salvation

"Honestly... I don't think you'll ever be exposed to human civilization... Of course, it's more likely to be in the eyes of the permanent members of the Security Council, in a very official and formal way," Randolph Carter shrugged, rubbing his temples. "You can't hide forever, can you?"

"Atlas Corporation, the Army Without Borders, the Cogito Foundation, even the Vatican—Alona, ​​I really don't want to count them—including the Vatican, you don't have enough power to deal with the impact of [humanity] discovering [my] existence."

Rhode stated this fact calmly. He pulled out a chair and sat down, facing the directors' unusually excited faces, and continued:

"My appearance will only drive certain forces even more frantic, which will obviously disrupt our development plans... It's easier to dodge an open attack than to defend against a hidden one. I don't want to be resurrected every now and then using a nuclear bomb or something like that. Or do you think no one would do that given my 'status'? Of course, there are worse scenarios. 'The way to ruin a policy is to implement it tenfold,' Director Peng Jiamu must be well aware."

These words made Dr. Peng Jiamu's expression become a little awkward. He coughed lightly a few times and said nothing more.

"In short, once we've secured a stable area of ​​control in Somalia, it's best to avoid unnecessary complications. I'll definitely appear before the world, but not now," Rhodes said, crossing his arms on the table. He glanced at the map of Mogadishu in front of him, pondering the potential difficulties. "This is a good opportunity to experiment with how to manipulate world public opinion. It'll definitely come in handy in the future."

After a brief discussion, the Cogito Foundation's directors no longer had any doubts. The oldest of them, Directors Argos Panoptos and Timothy Flyte, nodded slightly and said in a serious voice:

"We will fulfill our duties and responsibilities. As for the young soldiers on the front lines, I'll leave it to you, Rhodes... Bring them back alive."

Hearing this, Rhode stood up, put his hands behind his back, and looked at the other directors along with Ains, who also stood up. Then, he said calmly and seriously:

"Now, as Chairman of the Cogito Foundation, I authorize the deployment of the Army Without Borders to an apocalyptic-level afterlife disaster, allowing the true calamity to unfold before human civilization, even if it's only to the world's powerful nations. Do you have any objections?"

"No." x12

"Then please continue to fulfill your responsibilities and obligations as members of the board of directors and accelerate the research and investigation of the otherworld." Rhodes tilted his head slightly, catching sight of the ominous clouds spreading outward from the corner of his eye. "I will also fulfill my duties as chairman."

As Rhodes watched the directors' images disappear one by one, he sighed and turned to look at Ains. Just as he was about to say something, he saw that the latter's face became extremely ugly while holding the communication terminal.

"...What happened? Something happened in Mogadishu again?"

"No, it's those idiots who've been pestering me for a long time, nagging me about whether Atlas can send troops. It must be that someone leaked the news that Major General Garrison called me. I'm going to hold a press conference."

Irons walked out angrily, but when he reached the door of the conference room, he suddenly turned his head and said to Rhodes seriously:

"Rod, just do your thing. I'll take care of the rest."

"Oh, thank you so much, Lao Deng. Don't forget to load the latest M9 experimental AS mecha onto the transport plane for me."

Irons: "..."

Damn it, I really have to punch this little bastard.

Chapter 506 In My Name! (3K)

irritable.

Irons felt irritated, not only because of the chattering idiot in front of him, but also because of his worry about Rhodes - he always had some ominous premonition in his heart, but perhaps it was just an abnormal psychological reaction caused by the strong psychic being too close to the disaster site in the other world.

As expected, I should go and visit Director Hannibal when I have time, but I don’t need to go for dinner.

According to intelligence, Umbrella Corporation has already stuffed a lot of BOWs into the city of Mogadishu. They are probably happily collecting experimental data and then passing the mess to others... to the Army Without Borders and to Rhodes.

"That damn Raccoon City should be leveled with an interstate ballistic missile."

Irons leaned back in his seat, picked up his coffee cup but put it down again, frowning as he thought about the present and the future.

This is a temporary tactical briefing room, but the decoration inside is not simple at all. Instead, it is filled with Atlas Corporation's simple and unique pride - the most timely satellite cloud images, the most detailed terrain maps, the most complete communication equipment - here is what every commander dreams of, the ultimate efficiency that cannot be bought with money.

At this moment, the light cut through the murky air like a surgical lamp, illuminating everyone in this room that also served as a conference room. The men in suits and military uniforms had varying expressions, but no one would reveal their true thoughts.

"...Therefore, we, the government of the United States..."

"...and the peacekeeping forces..."

"...Mr. Irons, Mr. Jonathan Irons, are you listening?"

"I am listening."

Irons raised his eyes and saw that the United States soldier with the rank of lieutenant general in front of him had a tense face. This general had been in charge of the liaison between the United States and Atlas Corporation. He had been quiet for a few days when Atlas Corporation launched military operations, but now he started to talk the same boring repetitive words again.

It's just that Atlas Corporation is still part of the United States, you can't directly occupy Somalia, you can't directly rush into Mogadishu, you can't, you can't, you can't... They have so many ideas, with wishful arrogance.

Thinking about it now, breaking away from the United States earlier might not have been such a bad thing, but now Atlas and the United States are like a middle-aged couple who hate each other, and only because of "property" and "children" have they not completely torn apart. What's worse is that after this incident, the couple will have to live together for a few more years.

But this is only a matter of time. Once the "property" is divided and the "children" grow up, they might even stab each other.

Thinking of this, Ains's annoyance increased, reminding him of the ace pilot who often spread the idea of ​​"no borders" within the Army Without Borders - it would be great if humans could unite in the future and become a true United Earth Government (UEG).

However, at this moment, the group of idiots far away in Washington did not realize how dangerous the city of Mogadishu was. Even the most far-sighted generals on the front line did not realize... They thought they were still fighting a war in the real world, and they were just dealing with genetic monsters created by biological weapons.

But it doesn't matter, they will find out eventually.

With the evil thought of "wanting to see their horror when they find out that Rhodes is the mastermind behind all this", Irons sneered, but he quickly returned to his usual calm demeanor.

"In short, the United States—the United Nations—I mean, the UN forces will resolve the situation in Mogadishu," the Lieutenant General, acting as the liaison representative, spoke eloquently, sweat accumulating on his forehead, not only from the scorching weather but also from the pressure from the man before him. "It's just that we need some time. Even if General Garrison wants you to take action due to 'lack of confidence,' we still maintain this view."

"Why?" Irons looked at the lieutenant general and asked with a hint of ridicule, "Do you still need Congressional approval?"

"Actually, the President also... ahem, if it's not for peacekeeping, then directly deploying US troops into Somalia does require Congressional approval. That's because it would be setting foot on the soil of another sovereign nation. Without congressional authorization, it would be an act of war... time, it just takes some time to go through the formalities... We'll take care of everything."

Time, everyone needs time - but some people crave time, but squander it without a care.

"Atlas is an internationally registered multinational private company. We do not need congressional approval."

Irons looked at the general in front of him. He suppressed his irritation and anger and slowly stood up. He turned his head to look at Gideon beside him and asked:

"Are they ready?"

"Everything is ready, sir. The same is true for the boss and his direct troops," Gideon said, with a hint of regret on his face. It was as if he also wanted to go to that hellish battlefield and contribute his blood to save human civilization. "The transport aircraft group is ready to take off at any time."

"Then hold a press conference immediately, and then simultaneously launch an airborne operation. The transport aircraft will depart once they are ready. He will be in charge of the specific matters. The codename for the operation is 'Black Hawk Down.'"

Irons walked out as he spoke, completely ignoring the United States general's suddenly stiff face. "Order irrelevant troops to retreat 60 kilometers, prepare for interception and cleanup, and build fortifications on the spot—not even a rat can be spared!"

However, just as Ains was about to leave the mission briefing room, the lieutenant general suddenly stood up, slammed the table, and roared:

"Enough! Jonathan Irons, don't forget that you are a US citizen! Your military action in Somalia has already embarrassed the United States, and in whose name are you going there now?"

The Vice Admiral, unable to bear it any longer, was furious. With the arrogance of a soldier from the only superpower, he angrily asked Ains:

“On whose authority?”

"On my authority!"

Irons responded with a loud shout, his face filled with the fury of a lion, as if he wanted to eat the United States general in front of him alive!

"..."

No one spoke anymore.

Before the roaring echo completely faded from the mission briefing room, Irons had already left and walked down the stairs:

Leaving the building, the heat wave hit Irons' face, but when his feet stepped on the scorching barren earth, the roar filled the entire world, making him subconsciously look at the airport runway not far away - where it was filled with transport planes waiting to take off, bringing judgment, hope, and the savior of mankind to Mogadishu.

The mechanized armored forces had already set out, leaving only traces deeply imprinted into the Somali soil.

The soldiers all went there voluntarily, and no one chose to retreat. Even though they knew what was in the city shrouded in dark clouds ahead, and what it meant to step into that hell... they still went there without hesitation.

"Damn politicians," Irons muttered. "Damn bureaucracy."

Taking a deep breath, Ains straightened his collar and walked towards the platform that had been set up not far away. He walked up the steps and came to the small podium.

A group of reporters who had been summoned and invited were nervously waiting for Irons to speak, and the flashes had not stopped since the moment he appeared.

"Mr. Irons! Mr. Irons, may I ask your—"

"There are rumors that you will become the president of the newly established country..."

"Mr. Irons, you promised to send troops to Mogadishu..."

"Mr. Irons!"

Looking at the excited reporters in the audience, Irons reached out and patted the microphone, letting a few muffled thuds suppress the crowd's restlessness. When everyone shut up, he took a deep breath and spoke calmly:

"Now, heading to Mogadishu is a mobile strike force dedicated to maintaining world peace, combating global terrorist activities, and suppressing large-scale uncontrolled disasters."

Armored vehicles raced across the barren deserts of Somalia, crushing bones long since dried. Inside, soldiers in mechanical exoskeletons nervously stroked their guns, while officers inspected their soldiers' weapons and equipment, ensuring they wouldn't be killed by carelessness or negligence.

"Here, no one will become a victim of political conflict, no one will suffer regional or racial discrimination, and all soldiers will fight for the great ambition of saving human civilization."

Several XH-9s flew rapidly over the coast. The mass-produced Nikkis could clearly see the resentment and envy on the faces of the soldiers of the Joint Task Force. After a few seconds of silence, the girls gave a thumbs-up before disappearing from the soldiers' sight.

"As we do now, we will start from Heaven and march towards Hell, saving lives, punishing evil, and bringing victory."

Inside the transport plane's cabin, the pilot of the M6 ​​AS mech began taking up position, while the technicians nearby nervously conducted a final check. Afterward, they loudly offered blessings and prayers over the communication channel.

"What will we do? We 'Secure', we 'Contain', we 'Protect'; who are we? We are the iron power that leads the future, the invisible iron curtain that isolates madness—"

Lying in the cockpit of the M9 experimental AS mech, Rhode allowed Abigail, who was sitting behind him, to reach out and tug at his hair as he closed his eyes for a nap. The scion of the evil god chattered idly, listening to Marian's relentless instructions over the communication channel.

"—We are an army without borders."

Rhodes opened his eyes and saw the indicator light turn from red to green and heard the evil wind howling.

Chapter 507: We Jump into Hell with Both Feet! (1/7)

The tide of the other world is rising.

I saw the Lamb open the first of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, "Come!" I looked, and behold, a white horse; its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him. He came out conquering again and again. — New Testament, Revelation 6:1-2

"We are entering the skies over Mogadishu, preparing for an airborne drop!"

The navigator at the lead transport aircraft roared in anger. He raised his head and gazed at the sky through the windshield.

It was not the sky, but more like an upside-down lead-gray earth, stretching across the boundless sky—gloomy clouds rolled around, like layers of dangerous peaks and deep valleys, oppressive to the point of suffocation—the sunlight was completely swallowed up, and only in the unfathomable folds of the clouds would a faint and eerie lead-gray reflection occasionally appear.

But if you stare at a certain cloud for a long time, you can see a strange texture flowing there, between flesh and blood and thick smoke, and in its depths, a morbid green halo like rotting internal organs bursts out from time to time.

"We only have five minutes! Otherwise we'll have no choice but to circle," the navigator gritted his teeth. He could already feel his vision being poisoned by some invisible force. "Deliver as many as we can!"

"Within five minutes, the transport plane's fuselage covering has begun to peel off, and engine output has dropped," the pilot responded angrily. He saw the screen frantically refreshing chaotic data. "Start now! Start now! Make them jump into hell now!"

"In the name of Commander Rhodes, jump into hell!"

The transport plane trembled in the clouds, its wingtips leaving two white vortices as they cut through the thick fog. Song was immediately swallowed by a deeper shadow. The energy escaping from the supernatural dimension turned into weak arcs of electricity, leaping across the fuselage and illuminating the sweat-stained faces of every crew member.

The roar of the engine was like continuous thunder, rolling and roaring in the cabin. When the rear door of the cabin was opened, it mixed with the howling of the wind, completely drowning out all other sounds, leaving only a suffocating gray.

Everyone was gasping for breath, trembling with fear, and standing there with courage.

"Determine altitude, check air pressure, check oxygen levels."

Listening to the slightly trembling notification tone on the communication channel, Rhode flexed his fingers and tilted his head slightly to see Abigail's golden hair hanging down. Feeling the faint tickling sensation, he exhaled softly and asked the girl:

"Tell me, Abigail, what lies beneath? Darkness, a trap, or an abyss?"

"It's a wound, a wound that festered after the veil of reality was torn apart. Dark, evil concepts have been unleashed here, and the supernatural dimension buried deep in the otherworld has even cast its gaze here. They have been twisted and shaped by the thoughts of human civilization, one of the countless similar nightmares created by humans... If you have time, you can ask Hina and Makoto."

The lovely girl's arms came around, with infinite attachment and love:

"As for the upcoming battle... you have to cut off the passage in time, otherwise even I won't be able to close it." The eyes of the evil god's offspring narrowed slightly. She would never care about the life and death of humans on a certain planet, but the existence in front of her was an exception.

"So, you want to run away with me?"

"…It's too early to run for your life now."

Rhode rejected this sweet offer tinged with venom. He gripped the AS mecha's joystick and gave the order over the communication channel:

"Airborne commence, sound the flare signal—let's step into hell!"

In an instant, Rhodes felt a heavy lateral pulling force, but this force was quickly pulled down by the unparalleled power of nature.

Rhodes held his breath, closed his eyes, and let gravity bind his soul.

The humanoid mecha is an extension of human hands and a symbol of human existence. It demonstrates strength, wisdom, and the tyranny rooted deep in human genes - as if sitting in a mecha can withstand the storm and ignite the galaxy.

"Unit 1 egress! Repeat, Unit 1 egress, synchronize datalink!"

Now, the AS mecha cluster began to be deployed, the scarlet burning signal sticks on the feet were torn off, and thick blood-like smoke gushed out, dragging and swirling wildly in the trajectory of the rapidly falling steel, and a hint of burnt smell of burning chemicals was mixed into the strong wind.

Now, the stars begin to burn.

A group of meteors, dragged by gravity and rapidly falling into hell, carved indelible scars in the dark clouds.

A gigantic steel silhouette suddenly burst out from the center of the swirling cloud vortex, its blood-red color brutally and cruelly splitting the silent sky—the first one, then the second, the third… Ten, ten giants shaped by human wisdom broke free from the shackles of the dark clouds and moved forward like the metal Titans that broke through the chaos in ancient mythology—the heavy bodies were wrapped in gray and dirty clouds, and they plummeted towards the dying city called "Mogadishu".

But this dark cloud was too thick. The suffering of millions converged within it, twisted, intensified, and exploited, becoming the first stone thrown against the barrier of the old era. The stones piled up, blocking every attempt by humanity, and transformed into invisible blades to slice through the souls of the warriors, causing them to shed tears of blood.

The Ozodek scanning device built into the AS mecha cockpit exploded instantly, the screen flickered, and the colorful light and shadow seemed to transform into physical worms that drilled into the blood and tears, following the traces all the way up, and finally drilled into the pilots' brains, rolling and biting them wantonly.

"The energy index of the otherworld has exceeded its peak, and supernatural phenomena are appearing within the field of vision."

A pilot spoke calmly, looking down at his hands gripping the joystick. The skin there had cracked, and illusory cysts rapidly expanded and deflated in his flesh, causing almost unbearable pain and itching.

Something like a fairy crawled out from the shrunken skin of the cyst. They fought, bit, and reproduced on the pilot's arms, making the soldier almost think that his surroundings had become a nest of these little monsters - if he really thought so... However, the soldier did not, he just replied calmly again:

"It's still within the tolerable range... Yes, there is pain, but it's nothing to worry about."